Exploring Neglected Tropical Diseases in Somalia: A Scoping Review of Research Efforts and Gaps

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) comprise 20 chronic and debilitating conditions that affect over 1.7 billion people worldwide, predominantly in marginalized and impoverished communities. In Somalia, the prevalence of NTDs is fueled by limited access to clean water, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient healthcare infrastructure, which disproportionately affect vulnerable groups such as women, children, and rural populations. Prolonged political instability has further impeded efforts to conduct research and establish effective surveillance systems for NTDs. Unlike its neighboring countries, Somalia lacks a comprehensive master plan for NTD prioritization.

This scoping review mapped the existing research on NTDs in Somalia, identified knowledge gaps, and proposed future research and policy priorities. We included 36 studies published between January 1968 and July 2025, which reported eight neglected tropical diseases, with visceral leishmaniasis (38.9%) and schistosomiasis (33.4%) being the most studied. Other diseases, such as soil-transmitted helminthiases, chikungunya, rabies, and mycetoma, remain severely under-researched. Despite being a WHO priority country for leprosy, only two studies on this disease were identified. The studies predominantly used descriptive designs, with 52.8% led by authors outside Somalia, highlighting gaps in local research capacity.

The review underscores the urgent need for systematic epidemiological studies, enhanced surveillance systems, and integration of NTD research into Somalia’s health policies. Addressing these gaps requires building local research infrastructure, promoting community-based interventions, and fostering collaborations between the government, Somali researchers, and international organizations. This evidence-based approach is vital to mitigating the burden of NTDs and improving health outcomes for Somalia’s underserved populations.